The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-14
a b I: Q't't|:e'lltiige1tefr
Officer Nos. 80 aud ~ Fourteenth street.
A LOST IDENTITY.
ny Harriet Prescott spufrord.
copyrighted, 1887. By 8. 8. Mcclure. |
lcoS1lSuED rRox Last sl1unpAy1
FART n,

-
They had gone down 10 the seaside for a
weeks change, aa. when his duties allowed
him, they sometimes did. For he had
seasons OF such absorption In his work
that he came out Of It oil half wrecked and
needing rest. He was living great life.
Beginning the making Of a great name,
standing with many as a sort Of vicegersnt
OF tho powers OF health and strength. II
sometimes seemed to himself, In his rapt
study that he was on the verge OF dlscov.
ering mighty secrets Of the powers Of life
and death. 1t seemed 30 to Helena, too.
The day was perfect one, with now
and then cupful OF wind blowing out Of
the little round clouds that swelled up
over the horizon like bubbles.
"Will you 60 out with me2" asked
with all these tlsws?" be asked.
Alone" r. ~ o.
"Alone What in heavens name could
you do alope2" nd. 5s..,..s.IO. I. - -
II fancy" she said, the laugh brighten.
ing all the rich color. 10 her cheek, ~
could drown. In order that you should
blow The fresh breath Of life into me, with
all your occult powersl"
Lille would be much more comfortable.
Helena, II there were something you
were afraid OF in III Well, here We eo.n
and he gathered up his lazy length and
reached his hat. III We drown, Il is your
FAULT ..5T :
o"lt doesn't much matter about drown.
ing, though" she said, awinging her hat
as they went along the single path, and I'M.
aware that she spoke In other than mat.
ter.of.fact way, III We drown together"
Are You 90 indifferent to life-in such
hurry to get through" 4 4
"Oh, no, no, never! But 1t is all 40 blest
that am half the time afraid something
will happen" :.
but the worst that could happen ia
mo, indeed; the worst that could hap
pen would be that you might look at some
other woman" and then they both laugh.
ed, knowing well the habit OF her Jealous
pangs, and ran along to the boat, it signi.
lying little that neither Of them knew
much Of anything about boat, and that
they were running before the wind di.
rectly in the track OF the sea-going steam
era. ~ d.
Gould snything be more perfect" said !
Helena, half recunbent In the stern, sea
and sky making sapphire and lapis ring
about her. 1--WE seem to be alone in this
great hollow shell Of the sky and sea. It
is like our old lover days over again."
"Only better" he answered her,
Only bette.,H she repeated. Il
Two must come out at night with the
sea and the starr, and the freedom Of the
universe, alone together" and aa they
sailed he told bis histories OF the old craft
that had plowed these yatess-Gre ships
and phantom ships-snd recited to her
yerses of his own inditing, for now and
then he turned off, little song as perfect
as pearl.
THAT is the strangest thipg,n she said,
"that you, who don't know what music is,
should have the writing Of such vsrses,
and I, who an mnsic's couGdante, cannot
write q melody" "
"fou are q melody" he said. And
just at that ins.ant there was q roar, q
rush, a ringing OF bells that sounded In
their ears like gougs, wild cries, vast
black bulk towering over them, q crash,
a sweep Of many waters, and then moth.
ingness. -s
Halt an hour siterward fisherman
found broken boat ahoat bottom-side up,
and man entangled in the rigging, his
head abovp the vater, unconscious, but
alive. Trimming his aail speedily, LIE took
bis half-drowned man ashore. And alter
the sickness and delirium of weeks, as
wretched and desolate a man as walked
the earth, Leonard Vance took up his
colorless life, alone, as he said, till the sea
gave up lis daad. For Helena was never
found. l scraped the moss away, the other
day, from stone Set up es a memorial
without grave, and overgrown with
branh.e roses, to read the name upon it:
HELENA Vance.
Loaf at Sea.
-. Aged 49,